Effects of Fermented Navel Orange Pulp on Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics, Meat Quality, Meat Nutritional Value, and Serum Biochemical Indicators of Finishing Tibetan Pigs.

In order to cope with the limited supply of feed for global animal production, there is a pressing need to explore alternative feed resources. Orange pulp, a by-product of agriculture and industry, has shown potential to positively or neutrally impact pig productive performance when included in their diet. However, there is a lack of research on the effects of fermented navel orange pulp (FNOP) on pig growth and productive performance. This study aimed to investigate the effects of FNOP as a dry matter substitute on pig's growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, meat nutritional value, and serum biochemical indicators. The experiment involved 128 finishing Tibetan pigs, divided into four feed treatment groups, with varying levels (0%, 5%, 10% and 15%) of FNOP replacing dry matter in the basal diet. The results indicate that substituting 5% to 15% FNOP had no adverse effects on pig growth performance. However, at a 15% substitution rate, there was a decrease in serum growth hormone and IGF-1 levels, along with an increase in the feed-to-gain ratio. A 10% FNOP replacement notably increased the loin-eye muscle area of pigs. Additionally, 5% and 10% FNOP substitutions reduced the drip loss of pork. The study also found that substituting 5% to 15% FNOP increased unsaturated fatty acids and umami nucleotide contents in pork and raised serum total protein and uric acid (nucleotide-metabolism-related product) levels. These findings suggest that moderate FNOP substitution might improve meat quality, nutritional value, and maintain growth and productive performance in Tibetan pigs by improving protein synthesis and nucleotide metabolism, while also reducing feed costs. The optimal substitution ratio identified was 10%.

Dietary supplementation with honeycomb extracts positively improved egg nutritional and flavor quality, serum antioxidant and immune functions of laying ducks.

Introduction: Honeycomb is a traditional natural health medicine and has antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antitumor activities. It is currently unclear whether honeycomb extract supplementation has positive effects on the intensive farming laying duck production. This study aims to evaluate the effects of honeycomb extracts on the laying performance, egg nutritional and flavor quality, serum biochemical indexes, and antioxidant and immune status in laying ducks. Methods: A total of 672 healthy 28-week-old Shanma laying ducks with similar laying performance and body weight were randomly distributed into four dietary treatments with 6 replicates of 28 birds. The birds in each treatment were fed the basal diet supplemented with 0 (control group), 0.5, 1.0 or 1.5 g/kg honeycomb extracts, respectively. Feed and water were provided ad libitum for 45 days. Laying performance, egg quality, egg nutrition and flavor quality, serum parameters were assessed. Results: The results showed that compared with the control group, honeycomb extracts addition significantly increased the average daily feed intake but did not affect the other laying performance indexes, egg quality or serum biochemical indexes of laying ducks. Dietary supplementation with honeycomb extracts significantly increased crude protein content and decreased the contents of cholesterol and trimethylamine in eggs. Diets supplemented with 1.5 g/kg honeycomb extracts significantly improved egg total amino acids and flavor amino acids contents, monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids composition and enhanced the serum antioxidant activity and immune functions of ducks. Discussion: Duck eggs are rich in nutrients and a valuable source of high-quality food for human, while they are rarely consumed directly by consumers because of their stronger fishy odor and lower sensory quality. Many studies have showed that the influence of dietary supplementation on egg components. This study indicated that dietary supplementation with honeycomb extracts positively reduced the contents of egg cholesterol and trimethylamine, improve egg amino acids contents and fatty acid profiles, enhanced serum antioxidant and immune status of laying ducks. The recommended supplemental level of honeycomb extracts was 1.5 g/kg in the diet of laying ducks.

Effects of traditional Chinese herbal feed supplement on growth performance, immunity, antioxidant levels, and intestinal health in chickens: a study on Ningdu yellow chickens.

Traditional Chinese herbs have been widely researched as a green, safe, and effective feed additive for poultry. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of traditional Chinese prescription (TCP) based on various herbs in a specific ratio on the growth performance, carcass traits, immunity, antioxidant level, and intestinal health of Ningdu yellow chickens. A total of 420 female Ningdu yellow chickens were randomly divided into 5 groups, with 6 replicates of 14 each. The chickens were fed with a basal diet supplemented with 0 (CON), 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, or 0.8% TCP from d 43 to 105. Body weight, feed intake, and serum biochemical indicators were recorded at d 70 and 105, intestinal morphology and microflora of the carcass were determined at d 105. Compared to the control group, chickens fed with TCP, particularly at the level of 0.6%, showed improved average daily gain and breast muscle percentage, as well as a lower feed-to-gain ratio with statistical significance (P < 0.05). Between 43 and 70 d of age, chickens fed with TCP exhibited higher levels of serum glutathione peroxidase activity, total antioxidant capacity, and superoxide dismutase, particularly in the group fed with the 0.6% level of TCP (P < 0.05). Between 43 and 105 d of age, feeding chickens with 0.4 and 0.6% TCP resulted in a decrease in serum IL-2 concentration, and increase in the IL-4 content (P < 0.05). Chickens fed with 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8% TCP had significantly higher jejunum villous height (P < 0.05), TCP supplementation also led to a marked increase in the relative abundance of Bacteroidota compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Collectively, the study suggests that TCP supplementation can enhance immune and antioxidant functions, improve jejunum morphology, and positively impact cecum microflora in chickens. Based on these results, a level of 0.6% TCP could be considered an optimum level as a feed supplement for Ningdu yellow chickens aged 43 to 105 d.

Effects of Replacing of Inorganic Trace Minerals by Organically Bound Trace Minerals on Growth Performance, Tissue Mineral Status, and Fecal Mineral Excretion in Commercial Grower-Finisher Pigs.

A total of 180 crossbred pigs (Duroc × Landrace × Large White; BW = 47.1 ± 4.8 kg) were used to investigate the effects of totally replacing inorganic trace minerals (ITMs) by organically bound trace minerals (OTMs) on growth performance, tissue mineral status, liver antioxidant enzyme activities, and fecal mineral excretion in grower-finisher pigs. A randomized complete block design with three treatments and six replicates (n = 10 pigs per pen) was used in this 69-day, 2-phase feeding trial. Experimental treatments were as follows: (1) a basal diet without trace mineral supplementation, (2) basal + ITMs (Fe, Mn, and Zn from sulfates, Cu oxychloride, and sodium selenite providing commercially recommended levels in China at 125, 22.5, 117.5, 30, and 0.3 mg/kg, respectively), and 3) basal + OTMs (Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu from Bioplex and Se as Sel-Plex (Alltech Inc., Nicholasville, KY) providing levels identical to ITMs). No significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed in ADG, ADFI, or G:F among the treatments during the entire grower-finisher period. Supplementation with minerals, regardless of source, increased (P < 0.05) the Fe, Cu, and Se levels in the plasma; Fe and Zn levels in the liver; and Se levels in heart. Furthermore, compared with ITM group, the concentration of Zn and Se in the liver and heart, and Se in plasma and longissimus muscle were greater (P < 0.05) in OTM group. Hepatic Cu/Zn-SOD and ALP activities were increased (P < 0.05) when either ITMs or OTMs were supplemented. Pigs supplemented with OTMs displayed greater activities of Cu/Zn-SOD, ALP, and GSH-Px in the liver compared to pigs supplemented with ITMs. Dietary mineral supplementation to pig diets greatly increased (P < 0.05) fecal mineral (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, and Se) excretion in both grower and finisher phases. Fecal concentrations of Zn, Cu, and Se excretion were lower (P < 0.05) with OTMs supplementation than that in pigs fed diets containing ITMs. These results indicate that use of organic trace minerals, as well as no trace mineral supplementation, did not influence pig growth performance. Totally replacing ITMs by equivalent levels of OTMs could improve hepatic Cu/Zn-SOD, ALP, and GSH-Px activities and reduce fecal Mn, Cu, and Se excretion for grower-finisher pigs when supplemented at commercially recommended levels.